Today with bipartisan support, the Minnesota Senate passed bill language authored by Senator Karin Housley (R- Stillwater) that proposes $1 million in funding for the Department of Public Safety to develop and conduct an advertising campaign to elevate the law enforcement profession. 
 
SF-2848 funds a marketing campaign to highlight the honorable profession and long-term benefits of a career in law enforcement, and also appropriates $1 million in funding for the award-winning Pathways to Policing program.

Across the nation, law enforcement positions are opening up faster than they can be replaced by retirement or resignation. In 2021 alone, The Star Tribune reported Minnesota saw 32 Police Chiefs retire. The Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board Job board shows openings for licensed peace officers in at least 65 agencies. There are currently over 900 law enforcement vacancies throughout the state, including nearly 300 open positions in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

“This bill elevates and honors law enforcement, while encouraging others to explore opportunities in this noble profession,” said Sen. Housley. “Law enforcement officers have given so much to our communities, even in the face of daily criticism. Every day presents an opportunity for something to go wrong—they are always at risk. Yet these officers continue to step up to serve their communities. We need to spread the word of all the good work these brave men and women continue to do, even in the face of criticism and staffing shortages. We need to create a pipeline that gives law enforcement agencies the support they need. These are the brave men and women we call when we’re in trouble, and they deserve our support as they continue their work in these honorable careers!” 

This legislation is one piece of a larger bill package rolled out by Senate Republicans, known as C.O.P.S., or “Creating Opportunities in Public Safety.” The bill passed the Senate with a vote of 51-15.